DEMONS OF THE NIGHT Stories
  1. Balzac p. 30] "The Red Inn";
1. 30]f What is the image of the Germans here?

2. 31] Who is the girl asking for "another terrifying German story"?

3. 31] Why is the dinner mentioned?

4. 30-32] We are supposed to be drawn to this man, who has a story. How is this shown?

  1. 32] What's unusual about this other man?
  2. 39] Why might the lay-out be important?
  3. 6. 40-41] The subject of conversation?___
  4. 42-3]--Who offers the businessman his bed?
  5. 42-3] Did Taillefer know of Prosper’s plans?
  6. 44-5]--What are the two crimes?
  7. 45-52] Are we to believe this account?
  8. 52-3] What are the condemned man’s instructions?
  9. 52-3 Balzac skillfully brings the reader back to France, to the present. How?
  10. 53-4] Find a general truth stated here.
  11. 14. 136] What is the pace of the narrative here?
15. 58-60] What are the various opinions? ...& your view?

16. 60] Why are all 9 young ones against marriage?

17. 61-2] What is noteworthy about the conclusion?
 

B. Mérimée: "Venus of Ille"

    1. general--Look for parallels to Kleist &/or Balzac stories.

    2. 64] What is unusual about the black woman?

    3. 65] How does Venus hurt a man?

    4. 66-68] How are the provinces different from Paris?

    5. 67] How important is the wedding to the story?

    6. 69] How does this situation resemble a horror story?

    7. 70] How does Venus react to being hit by a stone?

    8. 70]f How does the narrator's description differ from others we've read so far?

    9. 72-75] What does the inscription mean?

    11. 76]f What does the groom seem to find most appealing about the bride? Is he in love?

    12. 78] Why is the wedding on a Friday (vendredi)?

    Who's against using that day?

    13. 80] What is done with the diamond ring during the game?

    14. 81] Which ring gets used in the wedding?

    15. 82]f List 3 things about the wedding feast that seem wrong or out of place, according to the narrator.

    16. 84] Now what has happened to Venus?

    17. 85-87] Give 2 different speculations on the cause of the young man's death.

    ---Is there an alibi?

    18. Epilogue--What comes next for the groom's family?--for Venus?
     

C. Gautier: "The Dead in Love" 91]
    1. 1. gen—Compare the role of religion with "Venus..."

    2. 91]f What seems to be the effect of the 1st person narrator?

    3. 92] What might be the appeal of the priest’s life?

    4. 4. 94] Why these animals?

    5. 94] What kinds of images are used to describe the priest’s reaction?

    6. 95] What "arguments" does she use?

    7. 96]f Find evidence for his naïveté.

    8. 98] Why is the sight unbearable?

    9. 100]f What is new, strange about the atmosphere here?

    10. 104] Is she, according to his description, beautiful...or strange?

    11. 106] What is the priest’s condition? How does Serapion see it?

    12. 108] How have we been prepared for this appearance?

    13. 111] The reader is drawn into the dream (or "dream") in stages. What are some of the stages so far?

    14. 112] Who are the cream of society?

    15. 113]f & gen. //’s to Dracula?
     

  1. 115] What is Father S’s role here?
D. Villers: "The Sign" 258]
  1. 258] & gen—Note & find examples of the motif of keeping warm.
  2. 258-262] This story is equipped with a double frame. What are the parts? --the effects? --the mood?
  3. 262] Note the sounds mentioned.
  4. 264] What are two meanings of the word "light"?
  5. 266]f What happened between midnight and 10 A.M.?
  6. 268] What might the cloak motif mean?
  7. 269] What are the 2 sides of the discussion? Who’s right?
  8. 269] & gen—Why does he use precise times (9 o’clock...)?
  9. 270] Bird motif—what kinds of birds are there?
  10. 270-271] Find examples of the shadow motif.
  11. 272] Find examples of V’s use of sounds, and their effect on the mood.
  12. 272]f How many motifs are mentioned on these 2 pages? How many numbers?
E. Maupassant: "The Horla" 284]

1. 284]ff. This features a 1st person narrator, and a diary form. What is the effect?

2. Gen.--Find passages that are reminiscent of "Lenz."

3. 288]f- What is the folk wisdom about the wind?

4. Gen. --What is the role of religion in this story?

5. Gen. --" ...role of money?

6. Gen. --"... role of folk lit. & its themes?

7. 300]f-Look for suggestions of the Dracula story here.

8. 302]f & gen.--look for elements of sci-fi and fantastic lit.

9. 307]f Compare the ending to a Kleist story.

Return to FL 209 syllabus
8 Jan 2001